What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 24:1?

If a man marries a woman

• Marriage begins as God-ordained covenant (Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:14).

• The law addresses real, broken situations without cancelling the ideal (Matthew 19:4-6).

• By starting with “if,” Moses signals a case law: guidance for judges and community, not encouragement to divorce.

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But she becomes displeasing to him

• “Displeasing” exposes the husband’s attitude; Scripture later shows hardness of heart to be the root problem (Matthew 19:8).

• The verse reminds Israel that feelings alone do not justify ending a covenant (Proverbs 19:2; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

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Because he finds some indecency in her

• “Indecency” refers to serious moral shame, not trivial irritation (Leviticus 18; Deuteronomy 23:14).

• Jesus narrows the application to sexual immorality (Matthew 5:32).

• God permits, not commands, divorce when sin has assaulted the marriage bond (Jeremiah 3:8 shows God Himself using divorce imagery only after persistent unfaithfulness).

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He may write her a certificate of divorce

• Written record protected the wife from false accusations and ensured legal closure (Isaiah 50:1).

• The document curbed impulsive abandonment and required deliberation (Matthew 19:7).

• By regulating, the law upheld justice while exposing sin’s cost (Romans 7:12).

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Hand it to her

• Personal delivery acknowledged her dignity and rights—she was not mere property (Exodus 21:10-11).

• The certificate freed her to remarry honorably (Deuteronomy 24:2), guarding her future (Ruth 4:5, 10).

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And send her away from his house

• Physical separation confirmed the seriousness of divorce; no casual “time-out” (Mark 10:4).

• Once sent away, he could not later reclaim her after another marriage (Deuteronomy 24:3-4), preventing exploitation.

• The clause warns every husband: think before tearing asunder what God joined (Matthew 19:6).

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summary

Deuteronomy 24:1 does not endorse easy divorce; it restricts it. God, valuing marriage as lifelong covenant, allowed a narrowly defined concession when a grave moral fault shattered trust. The required certificate protected the wronged spouse and slowed rash decisions, pointing Israel—and us—to honor marriage, confront sin, and seek the faithful love that God Himself unfailingly shows.